New pool design nearly set

Later this month, De Soto residents will get the first glimpse of the pool they purchased last spring.

City Administrator Greg Johnson said a committee of City Council members, city staff and residents have been meeting since July with Larkin Aquatics pool designer Tredwell Jones to settle on details of the pool's design.

That work was mostly done and should be completed with one last meeting this month, Johnson said. The plan now is to share a schematic design for the pool to be built behind City Hall with the City Council at its Oct. 21 meeting.

City Councilwoman and pool committee member Mitra Templin said she would have all the features included in sketches shared with voters in the spring. But both Templin and Johnson said they were pleased with new features that would be part of the pool.

"It's a much better pool than I thought it would be," Templin said. "I'm excited for residents to see it."

The pool will have all the details of designs shared with residents before April's $2.65 million pool bond referendum, Johnson said. Those design elements include a zero-depth entry, an isolated toddler play area, swirl slide, separated lap lanes, a shaded poolside seating area, concession stand, locker rooms with a shaded observation area, shelter and parking lot.

But Templin said the committee was able to expand on elements. For example, it now looked as if toddler and adult slides will join the swirl slide, she said. The pool would also have a vortex feature, which would allow users to immerse themselves in a cool whirlpool.

What was evident was the design the committee was working toward would offer something for almost anybody in the community, Johnson said.

"It's far more multi-functional than we thought it would be," he said. "There will be a lot of different groups and ages that can use the pool at the same time."

The goal is to have the design finished so the pool could go out to bid in January, Johnson said. Construction would start next spring with the pool opening in May 2006.

With a new pool less than two years away, the city was beginning to consider what should be done with the space available when the Miller Park pool is demolished. Johnson said a De Soto Parks and Recreation survey this month asked residents for opinions about how that space should be used. Among the suggestions so far were creating a landscaped gateway to the park, a skateboard facility, or batting cages, he said.

Some of those ideas would have to wait for funding. The pool bond issue only provides money to raze the current pool, Johnson said.

The current pool's restrooms, however, would be preserved, Johnson said.

"It's pretty well recognized we need additional restrooms down there," he said.